@RCKKenya led by the Director of Programmes Catherine Njoroge, held a constructive engagement with the Commissioner for @DRSKenya Miss Mwasaru Mercy to reinforce ongoing collaboration in advancing refugee protection, governance, and durable solutions in Kenya.
The discussions provided a valuable opportunity to reflect on shared progress, explore areas for deeper cooperation, and reaffirm a common commitment to ensuring that refugees and host communities are fully included in decisions that shape their lives and futures.
The discussions reaffirmed a shared commitment to inclusive decision-making, stronger coordination, and rights-based approaches that uphold dignity for both refugees and host communities.
#KeepingHopealive
@UNHCR_Kenya@UNHCRPartners@IOMKenya@drckenya@ReDSS_HoA@KenyaRedCross@NRC_EAY@TurkanaAssembly@TurkanaCountyKE@GarissaGov@KenyaGovernors
What does inclusive policy look like in practice?
It means ensuring that access to health, water, and education services is guided not only by humanitarian response, but by strong laws, accountable systems, and equitable public service delivery.
As Kenya continues to advance the commitments under the #Refugees Act 2021 and the #ShirikaPlan, @RCKKenya through the Inclusive Refugee Response Programme (#IRRP) supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark, convened a Policy Validation Workshop at the Turkana County Assembly in Lodwar.
The engagement brought together partners including @Amref_Kenya@UNHCR_Kenya, representation from the County Attorney's office @TurkanaCountyKE , @TSC_KE and @TurkanaAssembly sector actors to validate findings from the Legislative and Policy Indexing Report on Refugee Inclusion in Health, Water, and Education services in Turkana County.
The discussions underscored the importance of strengthened collaboration among government institutions, development partners, and humanitarian actors in advancing inclusive service delivery. Stakeholders emphasized the need for a deeper understanding of existing policy and governance systems, stronger coordination mechanisms, and more evidence-driven approaches to ensure that both refugee and host communities are meaningfully included in county planning and access to essential services.
The validation process reaffirmed that sustainable inclusion can only be achieved through collective action, shared accountability, and policies that respond to the realities on the ground.
#InclusiveDevelopment #RefugeesAct2021 #HealthForAll #EducationForAll #WaterAccess #KeepingHopealive
@denmarkinkenya@NLinKenya@drckenya@HIASAfrica@KanereNews@YouthAliveKenya@PlanKenya@CAREinKenya@ReDSS_HoA@RefugeeAdvcyLab@HakiKNCHR@DRSKenya@KenyaGovernors@GenderInKenya@UnKenya@IOMKenya@EACHRights
Representing @RCKKenya at the Departmental Committee on Administration and National Security @parliamentkenya on the proposed amendments to the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Act, we welcome the progressive amendments in addressing the issue statelessness in the country.
Partnership represents a meaningful step toward a shared vision. The @IPOA_KE team, led by Regional Coordinator Timothy Nzomo, paid a courtesy visit to the @RCKKenya office, led by RCK Field Coordinator @AmbasuMitch, to discuss collaborative efforts to advance access to justice.
The discussions centered on several key areas, including collaboration on community outreach programs, institutional capacity building and sharing, and the development of an MoU to provide a framework for collaboration and cooperation.
Through this strategic partnership, both agencies will jointly advance community outreach and awareness by leveraging existing programs and establishing clear referral pathways to improve service delivery. Additionally, the agencies will develop a training curriculum for stakeholders, such as police officers.
This engagement highlights the vital importance of coordinated action in building trust and safeguarding human rights. Ultimately, it reaffirms a collective commitment to a fair and inclusive justice system where rights are protected, accountability is upheld, and every individual can live with dignity, harmony, and peace.
#KeepingHopealive
@relon_kenya@ReDSS_HoA@DRSKenya@UNHCR_Kenya@lawsocietykenya
Effective refugee governance depends on strong institutions and clear guiding principles.
The Refugee Advisory Committee (RAC) operates on values that include respect for the law, independence in decision-making, collective responsibility, institutional respect, and balancing humanitarian obligations with national interests. These principles help ensure that refugee policy discussions remain objective, coordinated, and grounded in Kenya’s legal framework.
The recent induction workshop for RAC members, facilitated by @RCKKenya in collaboration with the @DRSKenya and with support of @denmarkinkenya contributes to strengthening institutional capacity, coordination, and policy alignment across government actors.
Kenya’s Refugees Act, 2021 and the Refugee Regulations, 2024 provide a structured and rules-based framework for the recognition, protection, and management of refugees. Within this framework, RAC plays an important advisory role , including guiding discussions on prima facie determinations and broader refugee governance priorities.
Ultimately, when institutions are strengthened, refugee protection systems become more effective, benefiting both refugees and host communities.
#RefugeeGovernance #RefugeeProtection #Kenya #PolicyLeadership
@AGOfficeKenya@KeTreasury@PSCKenya@Lands_Kenya@MoICTKenya@EduMinKenya@MOH_Kenya@LabourSPKE@TransportKE@Environment_Ke@CoopsandMSMEs@ForeignOfficeKE@KenyaGovernors@EACAffairsKenya@moyasa_ke@Sida@NLinKenya@Kenyajudiciary@UN_HRC@ODPP_KE
#Education is the foundation of self-reliance.
But we cannot build resilient communities if refugee and host children are excluded from quality, inclusive systems.
@RCKKenya Field Coordinator – Kakuma Operations, @AmbasuMitch highlights #IRRP role in promoting access to water, health, and education service delivery, and the importance of consultative processes that ensure an effective feedback loop in strengthening government-led systems.
Inclusive systems work best when communities help shape them.
#IRRP #InclusiveRefugeeResponse
@TurkanaAssembly@Locham_David@TurkanaCountyKE@denmarkinkenya
Advancing inclusive and locally responsive legislation in Turkana County.
@RCKKenya through the Inclusive Refugee Response Programme (#IRRP), supported the Office of the County Attorney alongside the @klrcKE -represented by Damaris Mukala- in reviewing the Turkana County Local Content Regulations. The three-day multi-stakeholder workshop in #Kakuma brought together @TurkanaCountyKE leadership represented by the Deputy Governor- H.E Dr. John Erus, County Attorney- Ruth Emanikor, County Government Chief Officers, members of the @TurkanaAssembly , United Nations Resident Coordinators Office represented by Peninah Mokaya,Turkana Youths Council, persons with disabilities, and Faith-Based Organisations to ensure the Regulations reflect the unique realities of Turkana County as a host to both refugee and host communities.
🎯The engagement strengthens the County Government’s capacity to develop inclusive legislation that promotes equitable economic opportunities, enhances local participation, and improves service delivery for all. The milestone is an enhanced second draft of the Regulations that includes both refugees and host communities, bringing the Turkana County Local Content Act closer to implementation and setting the stage for sustainable, inclusive growth under the #IRRP, funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark.
@denmarkinkenya Berndt Serway, Technical Advisor for Turkana County under #IRRP, emphasized: "The Danish Embassy supports national and county governments to take the lead in service delivery. These efforts are made possible through governments having strong frameworks like the Turkana County Local Content Act," he said.
@NLinKenya@DRSKenya@drckenya@DRSKenya@IGADHealthS@OpenSociety@Sida@RESCUEorg@unwomenkenya@relon_kenya@youthVoicesCom@ReDSS_HoA@RefugeesSeat@ECHO_CESAfrica@inkomokoKenya@HIASAfrica@YVKakuma@Kenyajudiciary@UDPKenya@IRAP@ICVAnetwork@NCIC_Kenya@afsc_org@TurkanaAssembly@TurkanaCountyKE@Garissapress@KenyaGovernors@LawSocietyofKe@KeEquityBank@SafaricomPLC@KCBInKenya@ODPP_KE@NYC_YouthVoice@refugeelawproj@KanereNews@YVKakuma@KakumaNews
Bold conversations. Shared responsibility. Real solutions.
Day One of the #IRRP Multistakeholder (Fireside Discussion) brought together the @TurkanaAssembly@TurkanaCountyKE@DRSKenya , Kakuma Municipality, Refugee-Led Organisations with operations in Kakuma and Kalobeyei, and partners including @UNHCR_Kenya to advance an inclusive refugee response anchored on the foundation of the Shirika Plan.
Technical experts in water and health set the tone with evidence-based presentations highlighting system capacity, climate vulnerability, service delivery gaps, and opportunities for strengthening integrated, government-led systems.
The moderated sessions and fireside dialogue created a powerful platform for engagement where participants shared lived experiences, asked critical questions, clarified policy direction, and exchanged knowledge across county and national levels.
At the heart of the discussions was a clear message:
Inclusive refugee response is not about parallel systems, it is about strengthening shared public systems that serve both refugees and host communities with dignity. Stakeholders emphasezed the need for collaboration in service delivery and projects implementations.
As envisioned under the Shirika Plan, integration must translate into coordinated planning, accountable governance, and sustainable service delivery.
@denmarkinkenya@IGADHealthS@Amref_Kenya@KenyaGovernors@Sida@NLinKenya@UNHCRAfrica@UNHCRAfrica@TurkanaTv@Locham_David
“The government is of the view that refugees and the host community need to be supported by an excess of documents so that they can access the services offered by the local government under the national government, and the private sector.” – Khalif Ibrahim, Protection/Legal Officer @DRSKenya.
#AccessToTheLabourMarketForRefugees #SocioEconomicInclusion #RCK25 #RCKat25 #KeepingHopealive
East Africa is coming together to champion refugee access to labour markets.
With a strong focus on socio-economic inclusion, integration, policy reforms and skills development, the #EastAfricaForum2025 will drive actionable conversations that shape the future of refugee livelihoods.
Follow Live Stream: https://t.co/HLY7nUol8w
In Turkana, where host communities and refugee families together, the decisions made in county offices play an important role in ensuring everyone can access services with dignity. @RCKKenya in partnership with @denmarkinkenya under the Inclusive Refugee Response Programme (IRRP), conducted a capacity-building training for Turkana County Deputy County Secretary, County Executive Committee members (CECMs), Chief Officer, Directors and representatives from the Department of Refugee Services (DRS) in Kakuma to strengthen their capacity to protect and serve both the refugee and host communities.
The training covered the Refugee Act, 2021, the Refugee Regulations 2024, and the Human Rights-Based Approach, helping the CECs not only understand the law but also reconnect with the people at the centre of refugee protection. The session created space for open discussions, shared reflections, and a deeper appreciation of the human stories behind each policy and mandate.
By improving their understanding of refugee governance and encouraging coordinated, rights-based action, this capacity-building effort supports county leadership to make more inclusive, compassionate, and accountable decisions. We remain committed to working with Turkana County's leaders to build a future where both host and refugee communities can access services with fairness and dignity.
#RCK25 #KeepingHopealive #refugeesinclusion #IRRP
@RESCUEorg@UNHCR_Kenya@HakiKNCHR@IGADHealthS@OpenSociety@bodo_immink@Sida@kkcfkenya@KakumaRead2020@denmarkinkenya@NLinKenya@drckenya@unwomenkenya@relon_kenya@youthVoicesCom@ReDSS_HoA@RefugeesSeat@hbsHornOfAfrica@ECHO_CESAfrica@SomaliStarNews1@inkomokoKenya@HIASAfrica@YVKakuma@Kenyajudiciary@Haki_na_Sheria@UDPKenya@IRAP@ICVAnetwork@Uspat6666@NCIC_Kenya@afsc_org@PamojaTunaweza@TurkanaAssembly@TurkanaCountyKE@TurkanaPress
🚀 In just four days and across four locations, @RCKKenya under the #ABLI_G II Project in collaboration with @drckenya is transforming access to essential services in Dadaab.
Through the #OneStopShop (OSS) in Hagadera, Dagahaley, Ifo and Ifo II camps, refugees and host communities can now access multiple services under one roof, making life easier, boosting socio-economic inclusion, and strengthening self-reliance.
🎯From KRA PIN registration, business permits, and group registrations, to banking, SIM reactivation, scholarships, and refugee documentation. The OSS is bringing together a powerhouse of service providers, uniting key partners under one roof to serve Dadaab’s refugee and host communities. @RCKKenya and @drckenya are driving access to justice and opportunities, while @KRACorporate is facilitating PIN registrations and tax compliance support. The Social Development Office is assisting with group registrations, and the Revenue Collection Office is issuing business permits. In addition, @KeEquityBank is enabling account openings, @SafaricomPLC is handling SIM registrations and M-PESA reactivations, and DRC is sharing scholarship opportunities. The @DRSKenya is streamlining refugee documentation with Alien cards and movement passes, while @KNCCI and INKOMOKO are fostering enterprise growth.
Together, we are turning the OSS into a true one-stop hub for empowerment, inclusion, and self-reliance.
Integrating #refugees into county development plans and budgets is essential to guarantee their access to services alongside #hostcommunities. @RCKKenya, in partnership with the @denmarkinkenya and in collaboration with @TurkanaCountyKE and @TurkanaAssembly under #IRRP project, convened a 3-day workshop to unpack the County Integrated Development Plan (CIDP III) for key social sectors.
Building on #devolutionconference2025 commitments to strengthen intergovernmental partnerships for inclusive development for refugee and host population. The workshop brought together 30 Members of County Assembly (MCAs), county officials, legal advisors, and development partners, including @UNHCR_Kenya, to deepen understanding of CIDP III and promote its effective implementation. The goal was to ensure equitable benefits for both refugees and host communities in education, health, water, and sanitation.
Rt. Hon. Charles Lokioto Ewoi, Speaker of Turkana County Assembly, in his opening remarks described CIDP III as “the heartbeat of Turkana’s development vision,” urging all to translate policy into real improvements. Turkana County Attorney Ms. Ruth Emanikor pledged legal support from the executive and legal teams to close policy gaps and ensure successful implementation.
The workshop outcomes include developing a simplified CIDP III version for community engagement, amending four key bills to include refugees in water, health, and sanitation sectors, and fast-tracking the formation of legal and justice committee with refugee representation.
Commitments were made to coordinate resources, support refugee-inclusive ECD lunch programs, and study mobile schools to reach displaced children. We are working together to advancing #inclusivedevelopment to ensure no one is left behind.
RCK remains committed to sustaining this positive momentum by championing policy-driven action and inclusive strategies that equally benefit both refugees and host communities.
#RCKProject #RCKat25 #RCK25
@NLinKenya@hbsHornOfAfrica@ECHO_CESAfrica@NCIC_Kenya@OpenSociety@Sida@RESCUEorg@IRCKenyaCD@bodo_immink@inkomokoKenya@ReDSS_HoA@GvnLomorukai@youthVoicesCom@drckenya@CMAUP@RefugeesSeat@RCKDirector@HakiKNCHR@relon_kenya@citizentvkenya@ntvkenya@KTNNewsKE@K24Tv@StandardKenya@NationAfrica@PeopleDailyKe@tv47news@TheStarKenya@KenyaGovernors@AmbasuMitch
To promote socio-economic inclusion and build self -resilience for refugees and host communities, @RCKKenya conducted a 5-day economic empowerment training under the #WezeshaProject, in partnership with the IKEA Foundation, for 30 participants in Kakuma, Turkana County.
The training covered essential topics including leadership skills, financial planning and management, record keeping, and business planning—such as budgeting, marketing, and customer care. Participants then developed business plans that will later be evaluated to qualify for capital goods support, targeting the most vulnerable women exposed to sexual gender-based violence. Many participants described the session as eye-opening.
One participant shared her learning experience:
"Nimejifunza ya kwamba wakati naanza biashara lazima kuna yale mambo nitaangalia, kama vile biashara itaniletea faida na mapato iwe ya kutosha matumizi yangu ya nyumba na kueka akiba."
(I have learned that when I start a business, there are certain things I must consider, such as whether the business will bring me profit and whether the income will be enough to cover my housing expenses and save money.)
Motivated and committed, participants expressed their intention to apply the knowledge gained to start new businesses, evaluate existing ones for profitability, improve record keeping, and embrace a culture of saving.
RCK is committed to supporting displaced populations and host communities in their journey toward socio-economic inclusion and self-reliance by providing targeted training, resources, and ongoing mentorship. While challenges remain, we aim to create sustainable opportunities that empower vulnerable groups to improve their livelihoods.
Enhancing community-led justice and peaceful coexistence in Turkana, 45 community leaders and stakeholders including @Kenyajudiciary, @NPSOfficial_KE, @ProbationKE, and @ODPP_KE, chiefs, village elders, religious leaders, the Lodwar BodaBoda Association, the Lodwar Street Families Association, #refugees and host community members, convened at Cradle Hotel, Lodwar, under #WezeshaProject in partnership with IKEA Foundation for a targeted Alternative Justice Systems (AJS) knowledge-sharing training.
Key topics covered included #CommunityEngagement in alternative dispute #resolution mechanisms aimed at promoting #peacefulcoexistence between refugees and host communities, as well as strengthening cooperation among justice sector actors.
Speaking during the event, the High Court Judge at Lodwar recommended strengthening the governance of the County AJS Committee by ensuring balanced regional representation, including the inclusion of female chiefs from Lodwar Town and Kanamkemer to promote inclusivity. He further emphasized the need for sensitization of grassroots AJS members and the development of monitoring tools to effectively regulate and oversee committee activities. Additionally, the High Court committed to establishing an AJS matters registry before the end of the year to enhance oversight and accountability.
Together, the participants agreed to collaborate in implementing these improvements to build a more accountable, inclusive, and effective #justice system that fosters sustainable #peace and harmonious coexistence in Turkana County. @NCIC_Kenya